Making a Bottle & Brainstorming in Photoshop

I've wanted to add a bottle form with a slender neck to my body of work for a while now, so here's my first, a rather terrible foray into creating one too, as this first test didn't quite meet my expectations. ALTHOUGH, that does lead into me showing you one way of exploring new shapes in Photoshop, which I occasionally use when feeling a bit stuck, or lost with a specific shape. Thanks for watching!
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Timecodes:
0:00 - Introduction, weighing out and wedging clay
1:27 - Centring the firm clay and opening it up
4:58 - Collaring in the clay in-between pulls
7:20 - Throwing the neck of the bottle
11:42 - How I use Photoshop to test out numerous ideas
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[@rachelwindsor850]

I don't think the one you made looks bad at all tbh. I think it helps to visualize something in it, like a flower, and in this case I can see that work.

[@ceramiccreation]

I'm agree with you 👌

[@wartris1]

I think, based on watching for the last few years, the dissonance you're feeling could be connected to the fact that form is a bit bottom-heavy. It just clicked for me when you were talking about the finish on the "lip" being more delicate. The proportions on the bottle, as is, are very (pardon the word) "conventional." In your photoshop exploration, you found that the longer necks felt better, and I believe that is because you essentially increased the contrast of the proportions. I notice this with your work-emphasis (of any kind, like decoration or bold design choices) always seem to be farther from the base of your pots, often above the shoulder. Perhaps it has something to do with your upbringing as a potter with the focus on finishing the bottoms of your pots. ~just the musings of a fan! very cool video :)

[@floriangadsby]

Good analysis - lets hope I can turn the lower half to have a narrower base. Otherwise this pot is getting ditched, maybe I don't need to make any bottles...

[@Enhancedlies]

@@floriangadsby that is never the answer!

[@floriangadsby]

Sometimes you gotta do, what you gotta do.

[@Enhancedlies]

@@floriangadsby true, but bottles are weirdly beautiful and I think you'd make brilliant ones haha

[@IkutoH]

​@@floriangadsby You have the touch it just takes practice. I can imagine one heavily exaggerated like a circle base and upside down funnel but maybe texture at the top?

[@RBCharger]

12:13 I like the tall one right in the middle of the top row. I've been thinking of making a corked bottle lately just for drinking water. I was going to add a small handle on the shoulder but maybe I'll just use a tall neck as the handle.

[@jonathanj8303]

I don't think it's a technical distinction, but I somehow feel that if you want it to feel like a bottle instead of a tall/narrow-neck vase, the neck portion needs to be more or less parallel. Not that that necessarily makes for a nice overall form in this case.

[@wardy6224]

12:11 For me personally the one directly in the bottom right feels the most homogeneous, the straight neck flows into the angled body of the vessel really nicely. :)👍🏻

[@AudenimLock]

These are so satisfying to watch! You are very talented 👏

[@GreenDayFanMT]

I really liked the version with the addition step near the neck. It made the piece somewhat more multilayered, or at least it drew my attention onto this important middle section of the bottle.

[@IrinaGreenman]

As I'm a classicist, this project immediately reminds me of ancient Greco-Roman amphorae. My question here, therefore, is about the function of this bottle (since you call it that rather than a vase, that already says some about its function) - is it for storage? does it need to be able to pour liquid smoothly without "glugging"? will it have a cork or some other stopper or will it be left open? does someone need to be able to peer inside? do the future contents need to be shielded from or exposed to air? of those things are questions we as archeologists ask about amphorae and other bottles when we find them, so perhaps they would be useful to ask during construction as well.

[@nava-8]

You are the best teacher, thanks so much for sharing 🙂❤

[@adelheidsnel5171]

Great technique with all the iterations!!!

[@seeingredtanya]

That’s a valuable tip with Photoshop. 👏

[@ANobodyHere]

Mr. Gadsby be posting bangers lately frfr

[@seasmacfarlane6418]

I love your work, and love watching your videos. I find it beautiful and mesmerising to watch your skilled hands form the piece. I really loved this item, and actually loved the contrast of the more imposing base and the delicacy of the lip. I hope to actually own one of your pieces very soon, and this example would definitely be one of my choices.😊❤

[@twopeasandapot]

This is hardly a "terrible foray" my humble friend! I'm certainly not an expert, but I wonder if the top 2-4cm of the rim were left just a little wider in diameter than the main length of the neck - so that there is a bit of a step between the neck and the rim... roughly something like what you have at 9:58, just before pulling it through - if it were with your delicately refined style of course. It may not be true to the original form, but may help add the sense of balance that others have noted as the possible source of your dissatisfaction.

[@BarMaor1598]

You are truly a master! Phenomenal video, thanks for sharing

[@mastermavrick]

Great way to see different forms. I feel with a smaller top section it'd be fine. Brings to mind old pottery that would hold oil/wine from the Mediterranean or Middle East.

[@SeungCanFade]

Oooh nice Molotovs

[@mikepetersen7319]

Looks very elegant 👍

[@emmaprophet2881]

Great video showing a different format than your normal patterns. Also, the tip on the Photoshop is really great thanks.

[@Praxaeus]

Would it be more efficient to remove a bulk of the water and slip inside the form before pulling the 2nd or 3rd section, then do a final clean up just before you close the long neck?

[@floriangadsby]

Indeed it would, but sometimes you don't remember to get rid of it until it's too late.

[@IkutoH]

I think it just needs a more stout top, short and a little wider for a giant cork. This looks like a giant nail polish bottle.

[@rafeverao4105]

bottles... ooooo if there was a cork big enough or neck thin enough, I'd love to brew some mead and keep it in one of those!

[@juliegarrett8389]

I think proportionally the longer neck with a shorter / smaller collar. I do like the angles, but that large collar throws everything off.

[@birotomodachi]

I have previously enjoyed how you’ve considered the functional applications of certain forms, like the Ramen bowls and teapots etc. In addition to the aesthetic, I was wondering if these functional applications of the bottle form are informing your process this time?

[@beefchicken]

I imagine you’d have a pile of fun using the sweep/lathe tool in 3D modeling software. Draw a profile and the software spins it into a 3D model.

[@ninihhh5098]

Out of the photo shop iterations, i also preferred the one you highlighted.

[@floriangadsby]

Pleased I'm not the only one - thanks for watching!

[@glennlavertu3644]

The proportion of the one you made is better than those you manipulated in PS. What if you made the neck go inward rather than flare out? Just a thought.

[@nafat1435]

You know what would be a cool challenge for you, a double gourd in your signature angular style would be interesting. Since some of the styles start with a narrow base to a flare. So why not do it twice on one vessel

[@floriangadsby]

Oh hell, well, I've thrown some things that are sort of like that recently, but without the narrow neck, consider it accepted... if I can draw a version first that feels 'right'.

[@nafat1435]

@@floriangadsby I am happy to hear that you liked my idea. You can play around with the size of the gourd transitions to get a nice gurgle that comes with the form. I am excited to see what you come up with

[@HerbaceousM8]

5 on the top.

[@AtelierBe-cb2vv]

It's amazing what shapes you can make with 1.5 kg

[@bloob1734]

Cask of amontillado

[@Suinsap]

Hi Florian, nice piece as always and very entertaining and didactic video. You started with 1.5 kg of clay, did you measure the final piece after trimming (before oven)? I wonder ho much clay is left from the inicial 1.5 kg. Thanks

[@milesw3001]

I like the two in the middle of the top row that look like wine bottles.

[@KatieAndCatsChannel]

Спасибо большое! Я как всегда в восхищении!

[@ryanfitzalan8634]

alright, now ill just go to my class and make one of these real quick, how hard can it be?

[@skeletonboxers7336]

9:27 Visions of Elden Ring...

[@cariiinen]

fun

[@marlabrowne6785]

I like the original.

[@juanQuedo]

I find it very curious how our eyes/brain catch those proportions' and out of balance issues without even trying.

[@wickeddelight]

Probably related to the fact that our ancestors used to be tree dwelling, and had to be aware of trees that might fall over and branches that might break. Of course parallel features and good body proportions are part of how we assess attractiveness, not just of other people but also of trees and bottles and things.

[@sandis52]

very ugly bottles

[@spikeboy101]

What about a much shorter neck? Or maybe I'm thinking of the shape like an alcohol shaker haha